With the world wide spread of the Mexican flu and deaths in two countries in the same region, the Worlds Health Organization has raised the phase alert to pandemic level five. This level indicates that this organization believes the spread of the Mexican flu to infect the world is imminent.
The death toll in Mexico has leveled off at 160, but the death of a toddler in America is a source of great concern. The U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has predicted that the deaths in America will rise from this flu outbreak and that the child in Texas is just the first death.
The Mexican flu virus has been analyzed and it has been determined by experts in America that this variation is a combination of pig, bird and human genes. This is the reason it has been so deadly, the human population has only a limited if any immunity to this new strain.
As of April 30, 2009 the spread of this Mexican flu has reached nine countries. The infected countries are Mexico, United States, Canada, Britain, Israel, New Zealand, Spain, Germany and Austria. Many countries are taking precautions. Ecuador, Cuba and Argentina have banned all travel to and from Mexico. The Egyptian government in a precautionary move has ordered the slaughter of every pig in their country and the bodies to be destroyed.
The official name of the Mexican flu is H1N1. This has upset the Mexican officials but their country is the epicenter. Once a name takes hold it there for good. Like the Spanish flu of 1918. Unlike this breakout, the epicenter of the 1918 is not what it was called. The state of Kansas has been determined as the starting point of the 1918 breakout but it will be forever known as the Spanish flu. This breakout will forever be known as the Mexican Flu 2009.
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